Yet Monroe spoke with pride about American accomplishments in his address. He also stressed the importance of international relations. He warned of dangers from abroad. He believed that European countries secretly hoped that the young democracy would fail. Then they could move in and carve up the rich territory. Monroe argued that the United States needed strong defenses and a ready military in case of attack. In addition, the country had to keep growing. It had to prove itself a powerful nation worthy of respect. "National honor is national property of the highest value," Monroe said.
The day after Monroe's inauguration, he appointed John Quincy Adams as secretary of State. Adams most recently had served as a U.S. senator from Massachusetts. He also had years of diplomatic experience, having served under every president beginning with George Washington. Adams's assertive foreign policy secured and expanded the borders of the United States from coast to coast.
First in a series of important treaties was the Rush-Bagot Agreement. American soldiers had tried to invade British North America (present-day Canada) during the War of 1812, and tensions had remained high along the border. Attorney General Richard Rush acted as Monroe's chief diplomat during the negotiations. He signed a disarmament treaty with British minister Charles Bagot in April 1817. It called for both sides to limit their navies on the Great Lakes. Congress ratified the treaty a year later. The agreement put the United States and Great Britain on friendlier footing.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der September 2023-Ausgabe von Cobblestone American History Magazine for Kids.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der September 2023-Ausgabe von Cobblestone American History Magazine for Kids.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
Airborne Animals
Humans have taken to the skies in balloons, gliders, and airplanes-but we're not alone among the clouds. Animals of all sorts have evolved to harness wind power.
TAKING OFF
The Wright brothers expected airplanes to “take off,” but even they might be amazed at the way the airline industry has become big business. In the past, it was expensive to send something by plane.
WHY KITTY HAWK?
The Wright brothers searched carefully for the best place to test their gliders and flying machines. Their main concern was for good, steady winds. But they also hoped to find a remote location to allow them to perform tests away from the public eye.
Da Vinci's 4 Designs
Have you ever wondered how a bird flies? Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) did. He thought that understanding how a bird flies would provide the key to human flight. So, what did da Vinci learn from birds?
Along Rivers and Through Prairies
An Interview With Dr. Robert Moore
Routes Well Traveled
The United States is not the only country that celebrates its historic routes. But the routes included here are much older!
Last Stop, Independence
For many Oregon Trail pioneers, Independence, Missouri, was the last stop in the United States. Soon after it was founded in 1827, the waterfront town became a strategic city on the Missouri River.
Danger on the Trail
About 20,000 emigrants died on the Oregon Trail. That averaged to about one grave for every 100 yards from the Missouri River to the Willamette Valley. And because pioneers had to keep to a steady pace each day, burials on the trail were hasty. There often was no time to create a marker to note a burial site.
Keeping the Legacy Alive
Several sites in Virginia work to keep alive James Monroe's legacy. In Westermoreland County, Monroe Hall, Monroe's birthplace and the place he called home until he was 16 years old, has been re-created.
The American Colonization Society
In 1821, President James Monroe signed into law the controversial Missouri Compromise.